Congressman Jack Bergman issued the following statement after voting in support of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):
“The number one constitutional duty of Congress is to provide for the defense of our Nation. This year’s NDAA provides major wins for our Nation and servicemembers including a 4.6% pay raise. While no legislation is perfect, major concerns for our national security and troops were addressed in this year’s NDAA, including rescinding the COVID vaccine mandate, rejecting Biden’s plans to cut the fleet size of the U.S. Navy, and hardening our defense against Chinese aggression.”
The FY23 NDAA:
- Reverses Biden’s proposed cuts that would harm our security, missile defense, military construction and procurement;
- Ends the separation of servicemembers for failing to take the COVID-19 vaccine;
- Encourages DoD to reinstate and provide full Veterans benefits to servicemembers separated for failing to take the COVID-19 vaccine;
- Provides a 4.6% pay raise for our servicemembers;
- Includes funding for Operation Northern Strike;
- Includes provisions to help counter impacts of inflation on low-income military families;
- Invests in research, development, and procurement of capabilities to deter adversaries;
- Includes provisions to counter adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran;
- Prohibits the sale of products manufactured, assembled in or imported from China in US military base exchanges or commissaries;
- Prohibits a dishonorable discharge for servicemembers who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination;
- Requires regular DOD Inspector General reviews of assistance provided to Ukraine;
- Expresses the sense of Congress that the crisis at our Southern border is a national security threat; and
- Creates incentives for servicemembers to report waste and fraud.
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